How to Use an Android Phone as a Wi-Fi Hotspot

You can use the SIM in your Android phone to get nearby devices online when out and about, including your laptop and tablet. Our helpful guide explains how to share your mobile internet connection.

These days public Wi-Fi hotspots are becoming more common, but from time to time we all still find ourselves needing to get online when we're out of range. Fortunately, it's very easy to use the mobile data connection on your Android smartphone to share your internet connection with other devices.

This is a good alternative to using a mobile Wi-Fi router, which can be pricey and the times you need to call on it may be rather few and far between.

You might want to share your phone's data with your laptop or tablet, or perhaps you're feeling generous and want to help a friend get online. There are benefits here when you're visiting abroad, too, since only one of you will need to pay the roaming charges.

When sharing your phone's internet connection (which is also known as internet tethering) you should pay extra attention to how much data you are using. With mutliple devices connected to one SIM you'll find you gobble through your allowance significantly quicker. (Also see: How to minimise data usage on Android.)

This is possible in the phone's Settings menu. Tap on 'Network & Internet', 'Data usage' to see what you've used between a given period; it makes sense to set this period to match that of your monthly contact.

source : techadvisor

Share Android's internet connection as a Wi-Fi hotspot

• Open the Settings menu and tap on Network & Internet

• Choose 'Hotspot & tethering'

• You'll need to set up the Wi-Fi hotspot for first time use, so select that option

• By default your phone will have a Wi-Fi hotspot name, with security turned on and a default password. You can use these as they are or change them to something you're more likely to remember, simply by tapping on each field, entering a new name or password, then tapping Ok

• Slide across the toggle at the top of the page to enable the Wi-Fi hotspot, and give your password to anyone you wish to allow access to it. They can then connect to your Wi-Fi hotspot as they would any other wireless network

• Using your phone as a Wi-Fi hotspot doesn't only increase its data usage, it also places a hefty burden on the battery (see best power banks). To improve energy efficiency you can set the Wi-Fi hotspot to automatically when no-one is using it - just tap Advanced and then enable 'Turn off hotspot automatically'

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